Osteospermum plant named ‘Doostmarkar’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Doostmarkar’, characterized by its compact, broadly upright, uniform and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely and uniformly branching habit; freely and early flowering habit; large single-type inflorescences with reddish purple-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOOSTMARKAR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Doostmarkar’.

The new Osteospermum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Puerto Lumbreras, Spain and De Lier, TheNetherlands. The objective of the program is to create and develop newcompact Osteospermum plants that are freely and uniformly branching withnumerous large inflorescences with unique and attractive ray and discfloret coloration.

The new Osteospermum plant originated from a cross-pollination by theInventor during the winter of 2014 of a proprietary selection ofOsteospermum ecklonis identified as code number QQ12-000005-001, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with Osteospermum ecklonis‘Summertime Kardinal, not patented, as the male, or seed, parent. Thenew Osteospermum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, TheNetherlands in July, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum plant by terminalvegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier,The Netherlands since August, 2015 has shown that the unique features ofthis new Osteospermum plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Osteospermum have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Doostmarkar’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Doostmarkar’ as a new and distinct Osteospermumplant:

-   -   1. Compact, broadly upright, uniform and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely and uniformly branching habit.    -   4. Freely and early flowering habit.    -   5. Large single-type inflorescences with reddish purple-colored        ray florets.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in ray floret color as ray florets of plants ofthe new Osteospermum are reddish purple in color whereas ray florets ofplants of the female parent selection are pink in color.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘Summertime Kardinal’, in branching habit as plants of the newOsteospermum are more freely branching than plants of ‘SummertimeKardinal’.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of theOsteospermum ecklonis ‘Margarita Cool Purple’, not patented. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Osteospermum differprimarily from plants of ‘Margarita Cool Purple’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum are taller than plants of        ‘Margarita Cool Purple’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Osteospermum are larger than        leaves of plants of ‘Margarita Cool Purple’.    -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Osteospermum are broader        than ray florets of plants of ‘Margarita Cool Purple’.    -   4. Peduncles of plants of the new Osteospermum are stronger than        peduncles of plants of ‘Margarita Cool Purple’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Osteospermum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Osteospermum plant. The photograph is a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘Doostmarkar’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown during the summer and autumn in 10.5-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial Osteospermum production. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 30°C. and night temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 18° C. Plants werepinched five weeks after sticking unrooted cuttings; plants were 13weeks old when the photograph was taken and 15 weeks old when thedescription was taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermurn ecklonis ‘Doostmarkar’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number            QQ12-000005-001, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Summertime            Kardinal’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at            temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 21 days at            temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 25 days at            temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 28 days at            temperatures about 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            whitish grey in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Compact, broadly upright,            uniform and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit,            dense and bushy growth habit; moderately vigorous growth            habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 34            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 35            cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 32 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: Freely branching            habit, about five primary lateral branches each with about            four to six secondary lateral branches developing per plant;            pinching enhances lateral branch development. Length: About            21.5 cm to 24 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Internode length:            About 1.2 cm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and            luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, developing:            Close to 144C to 144D. Color, developed: Close to 144C.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Length:            About 8 cm. Width: About 4.5 cm. Shape: Spatulate. Apex:            Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Dentate and lobing; sinuses            are medium in depth and divergent. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Pubescent; leathery; slightly glossy. Texture and            luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; leathery; slightly            dull. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves,            upper surface: Close to N137A. Developing leaves, lower            surface: Close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper            surface: Close to N137A; venation, close to 137B. Fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B; venation,            close to 138B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm. Diameter: About            4 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly glossy. Strength: Moderately strong. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 144B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance and aspect.—Terminal and axillary inflorescences;            inflorescences positioned beyond the foliar plane on strong            peduncles and face mostly upright to outwardly; single-type            inflorescence form with lanceolate-shaped ray florets and            tubular disc florets; ray and disc florets developing            acropetally on a capitulum.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit; about 20 to 40            inflorescence buds and open inflorescences per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering response.—In The Netherlands, plants of the new            Osteospermum flower continuously from spring until first            frost in the autumn; early flowering habit, plants begin            flowering about 50 to 60 days after rooting cuttings.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last about two weeks            on the plant; inflorescences not persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.4 cm, depending on stage            of development. Diameter: About 1 cm, depending on stage of            development. Shape: Flattened globular. Texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 137B and            144C.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6.4 cm. Depth (height):            About 2.8 cm. Disc diameter: About 1 cm. Receptacle            diameter: About 7 mm. Receptacle height: About 3 mm.            Receptacle color: Close to 137C.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About 14 to 16 arranged in a single whorl. Length: About            3.5 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Obtuse            or slightly emarginate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; not            undulate. Aspect: Mostly flat. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to N78A. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 79A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to            N78A; venation, close to 79A; color does not change with            subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close            to N78B; venation, close to N78B; color becoming closer to            79A with subsequent development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About 50 arranged in about seven to nine whorls. Length:            About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Tubular with five            obtuse apices. Aspect: Upright. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color: When developing, inner surface:            Close to N79A. When developing, outer surface: Close to 79A.            Fully developed, inner surface: Close to 91B; venation,            close to 79A; color becoming closer to 79B with subsequent            development. Fully developed, outer surface: Close to 79A;            venation, close to 91B; color becoming closer to 79B with            subsequent development.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About 21 arranged in about one to two whorls. Length: About            9 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 137A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 9 cm to 13 cm. Diameter: About            2 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright to outwardly            slanting. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.            Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament color: Close to            17A. Anther size: About 1.5 mm by 9 mm. Anther shape:            Narrowly elliptic. Anther color: Close to 6A. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 17B. Gynoecium: Present on            both ray and disc florets. Pistil length: About 3 mm. Stigma            shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to 7A. Style length:            About 3 mm. Style color: Close to 2A. Ovary color: Close to            145C.        -   Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed development has            not been observed on plants of the new Osteospermum.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Osteospermum    have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common    to Osteospermum plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been    observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind    and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named‘Doostmarkar’ as illustrated and described.